Adhesive applicator for ticket-like elements



1966 F. N. STEPHENS ETAL 3,255,726

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR TICKET-LIKE ELEMENTS Filed July 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet F a W y we e/v 4 4/75 a/mr/as 6.

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United States Patent 3,255,726 ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR TICKET-LIKE ELEMENTS Frederick N. Stephens, Leawood, Kans., and Charles C. Krug, Kansas City, Mo., assignors to Stephens and Associates, Inc., Kansas City, M0., a corporation of Missouri Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 294,817 Claims. (Cl. 118-1) This invention relates generally to apparatus for applying strips of liquid material to a selected surface and refers more particularly to apparatus of this type capable of applying one or more strips of liquid adhesive to flat ticket-like objects such as the conventional stock inventory tickets which are in widespread use today.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a compact, efiicient and low cost apparatus which is operable to apply one or more strips of adhesive at selected locations on one side of a stock inventory ticket and which is operable to apply such strips to a series of tickets as rapidly as they can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus by an operator. An important feature of the invention in this respect resides in the provision in the apparatus of actuator means which causes the application of the adhesive in response to manual insertion of the object therein and which does not depend upon coordination and separate actuation of any other means to accomplish the desired result.

Another important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which is especially designed for utilization with a hot liquid adhesive.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a semi-automatic. adhesive applicator of the character described which is particularly suited for the application of adhesive strips to stock inventory tickets and which facilitates direct seeming of the ticket to the article of merchandise for which it is intended directly upon its removal from the applicator and with no change in the position of the operators fingers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adhesive applicator of the character describedwhich can be easily moved about from location to location as desired and which, consequently, makes it a simple matter to obtain application of tickets as quickly as merchandise comes in wherever it may be convenient for receiving clerks to work.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adhesive applicator of the character described which is so constructed that it can readily be modified and adapted to the efficient handling of tickets which differ in length, width and/ or thickness.

Other and further objects of the invention together with the feautres of novelty appurtenant thereto will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred form of adhesive applicator embodying the features of our invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of such an applicator, parts being broken away to expose the interior mechanism and for purposes of illustration;

Patented June 14, 1966 FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the glue reservoir and well section of the unit removed and disassociated from the remainder of the unit, parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of the receiver components in exploded relationship with one another and disassociated from the unit, the receiver components being shown in conjunction with a typical stock inventory ticket; I

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a typical stock inventory ticket with the strips of adhesive resulting from operation of the applicator applied thereto; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical circuit of the applicator.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates generally the hollow, main outside casing of a preferred applicator unit embodying the invention. The casing is generally trapezoidal in plan, having the top wall 11, opposed side walls 12, the rear wall 13 and the front wall 14. A carrying handle 15 is secured to the top of the. casing as by means of the screws 16 extending upwardly through the underside of the casing (FIG. 3). For reasons subsequently to be made clear, the casing is provided with one opening in which a perforated closure 17 is mounted and another opening which is covered by a hinged access door 18, the hinge mounting being indicated at 18a. The access door also is apertured to receive a perforated closure 19 much like the closure 17.

The casing 10 is secured at spaced intervals along its lower edge, as by screws 20, to the side edges of a base plate 21 of similar plan with the casing. If desired, suction cup feet 22 can be located on the bottom of the base plate to provide a combined shock-absorbing and nonslip support for the unit whereby it can conveniently be rested on a bench, table top or like surface.

Supported on the front portion of the base plate 21 is the open top glue reservoir 23 which is shown as disassociated from the overall machine in FIG. 4. This reservoir has the relatively shallow rear portion defined by the rear wall 24, side walls 25 and bottom 26, and a forwardly projecting pair of laterally spaced, relatively deeper well sections 27 having the bottom surfaces 28. The front wall of casing 10 is apertured to permit the well sections to project forwardly thereof. Preferably, the reservoir is cast as a one-piece unit .and from a material having good heat conductivity, for example, aluminum. It is secured to the base plate as by screws 29 which extend upwardly through the base plate and are received in suitable tapped bosses 30 formed on the bottom of the reservoir unit. Heat insulators as at 30a and 3012 may be interposed between the reservoir and base plate.

-As best seen in FIG. 3, the juncture portion 23a between the rear reservoir section and the wall sections is of substantial thickness. It is provided with a horizontal bore 23b extending from one side of the reservoir to the other. Inserted within this bore is a cylindrical electrical heating element 31 which may be of any suitable commercially available type, preferably a type employing a self-contained thermostatic control. For reasons of simplification, the electric conductors for the heating element have not been shown.

It will further be observed, referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, that the interior of each well section is separated from the main reservoir by a shallow, dam-like ridge 25a. Each such ridge is centrally slotted to provide a flow path for liquid from the upper level floor 26 of the main reservoir to the floor 28 of the well section. The purpose of the dam or ridge 25a will later be set forth.

Spanning the reservoir unit 23 and journaled at its opposite ends in suitable aligned apertures in the side wall 25 thereof, is a rotatable shaft 32. This shaft serves to support and carry a pair of applicator members 33 which are identical in construction and which are so located axially of the shaft as to be aligned respectively with the well sections 27.

Each of the applicator members 33 is preferably constructed from a strip of good quality, stainless steel. At the end adjacent the shaft, the strip is reversely bent to provide a tab portion 33a lying parallel with the strip. The tab is key-hole slotted as at 33b so as to provide a passageway for the shaft 32. A nut 34 is welded or brazed to one side of the tab and main strip, and a bolt 35 is threaded therethrough from the opposite side. Obviously, by tightening bolt 35, the applicator can be seized securely to the shaft yet, when desired, can be released by relieving the bolt tension.

The outer end of each applicator member is formed to provide a fiat, narrow, upturned surface 33d which normally is submerged in the glue in the reservoir. The level of the glue in the reservoir is indicated at G by the broken line. The orientation of the surface 33d on the applicator is such that, when the applicator is raised to the broken line position by means subsequently to be described, the surface 33d is substantially horizontal.

The shaft 32 is provided centrally between the applicator members with a radially extending crank arm 36. This arm is interconnected with the reciprocable armature 37 of an electric solenoid 38, the interconnection being made by means of a link member 39. The connection of the link member with the arm is achieved by providing a right angle extension 39a on the end of the link which is rotatably received in an aperture near the outer end of the crank arm. A cotter 40 serves to maintain the connection.

As shown in the drawing, the link member 39 is bent so as to clear the rear wall 24 of the reservoir. The solenoid is mounted to the base plate by connecting it to the upwardly projecting bosses 41 on the base plate by screws 42 which extend through the flange portions 38a of the solenoid. The solenoid armature is biased to an extended position relative to the solenoid by a tension spring 43 which is connected at one end to an attaching flange 24a formed on the rearwall 24 of the glue reservoir and at the other end to the cross pin 44 which serves to anchor the end of the link member 39 to the clevis-like head 37a of the armature.

Returning now to the forward end of the applicator apparatus, it will be observed that the well sections 27 of the glue reservoir are concealed by an exterior secondary casing 45 having the central depression 45a located between the well sections. The secondary using interfits with the main casing. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the top of the secondary casing 45 is provided with openings 45b above the well sections. These openings are of similar cross-sectional area and shape with the top opening of the well sections. A fiat, horizontal portion 450 on the secondary casing lies to the outside of each well section; these portions are provided with tapped apertures 46.

Secured to the top of the secondary casing 45 by cap screws 47 is a receiver assembly generally identified at 48. The components of the receiver assembly are shown in exploded relationship in FIG. 5.

The lowermost component comprises the lower plate 49 which is symmetrically formed to provide outside notches or openings 50 which are respectively positioned in the upward path of the ends of the applicator members 33 and the central enlarged notch or opening 51 which registers with the space between the well sections and overlies the depression 45a in the secondary casing. Apertures 49a are located to receive the cap screws 47 earlier described.

An upper plate 52 is superposed on the lower plate 49, being spaced therefrom a preselected distance by means of a pair of L-shaped spacers 53. The long inside edge 53b of each spacer is dimensioned to coincide with the inner edges of notches 50 and 51 in the lower plate. The upper plate 52 has the central notch 54 which registers with notch 51 in the lower plate and the rectangular openings 55 which similarly register with the respective notches 50. As illustrated, the outer edge portions of the upper and lower plates are oppositely curved to provide an entrance throat 56 (FIG. 3) to the space between the plates 49 and 52. Both the spacers 53 and the upper plate 52 are *apertured as at 53a' and 52a respectively to receive the assembly cap screws 47.

The receiver assembly in the preferred unit here being described is designed for operation with an inventory ticket T of the type illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. This ticket is constructed with end tab portions joined to the main body by weakened lines of severance 57. The thickness of the spacer sections 53 and the distance between the opposed edge surfaces 53b thereof is just sufficient as to permit free edgewise insertion of the ticket between the upper and lower plates as exemplified in FIG. 3. When inserted, the lower surfaces of the tab portions will register with openings 50 in the lower plate, with the upper surfaces exposed in the openings 55 in the upper plate member.

The receiver 48 has associated therewith means for causing energization of the solenoid 38 in response to insertion of a ticket T therein. In the preferred embodiment, this comprises a plunger 58 which lies between the confronting ends of the L-shaped spacers 53 and terrninates at the receiver end in a head portion 58a disposed in the intended path of the ticket as it is inserted in the receiver. The plunger can conveniently be formed from wire stock, the head 58a being made by twisting and bending one end into a convolute form having its coils lying in a plane substantially normal to the axis of the plunger. The other end of the plunger is connected with the operating arm 59 of a microswitch 60. Switch 60 is of the normally open type, i.e. with arm 59 biased toward the open condition for the switch. The switch is connected in series with the solenoid 38.

The electrical circuit for the machine is shown in FIG. 7. An off-on manual power switch 61 controls the power supply to the unit. The leads or the terminals of this switch may be connected both with the heating element and with the microswitch-solenoid series circuit. It will be understood that a conventional electrical cord and Wall plug 62 can be employed to supply power to the unit, the cord being connected with the input leads of the main manual power switch 61.

In the operation of the machine, the receiver is first charged with glue to bring the level thereof G to the point that the applicator portions 33d of the applicator members are submerged therein. The glue is heated to the proper temperature 'by the heating element 31, the heat being conducted through the reservoir walls as earlier described. The charging of the glue to the reservoir can be accomplished through access door 18. The dams or ridges 25a prevent solid, unmelted chunks of glue from descending into the well sections where they might otherwise interfere with the free operation of the applicators 33. In other words, the dams hold back the solid chunks of glue until they have had time to melt, following which the liquid can easily flow through the slots and over the dams. The vented or perforated closures 17 and 19 permit escape of fumes and assist in preventing overheating in the interior of the casing.

To cause the application of strips of glue to a ticket T, the ticket is held centrally between the thumb and forefinger and is inserted edgewise as illustrated in FIG. 3 into the receiver 48 through the throat 56 thereof.

The curved portion 53b of the spacers 43 and the throat will assist in guiding the ticket rapidly into the receiver so that it will eventually engage at its leading edge the head 58a of the plunger 58. As movement on into the receiver continues, the plunger is actuated or displaced longitudinally thus displacing the operating arm 59 of the microswitch 6t} and closing the circuit to the solenoid 38. Upon energization of the solenoid, the armature 37 is displaced inwardly against the action of spring 43 thus pulling-with it link 39 and causing the shaft 32 to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3. The rotation of the shaft serves to pivot the applicator members 33 to the broken line position and to bring the surfaces 33d into contact with the underside of the ticket through the openings 50 in the lower plate 49. The upper openings 55 in the upper plate 52 permit the ticket to give slightly upon impact of the applicator surfaces 33d and, consequently, there is no hard jolt or shock to the mechanism.

As the applicator surfaces 33d strike the ticket, they transfer to the ticket surface strips of adhesive as indicated at A in FIG. 6. Obviously, by increasing or decreasing the width of the applicator surface and its length, the amount of adhesive deposited can be carefully controlled, or, if desired, designs other than a strip can be obtained by providing the applicator surface with the desired design.

Upon return of the ticket out of the receiver, the arm 59 serves to move the plunger back to its original position and the circuit is broken to the solenoid. Consequently, spring 43 returns the armature to the normal solid line position, this in turn again submerging the applicator portions 33d in the glue. A new ticket can then be inserted and strips of glue will be applied thereto. Obviously, glue can be applied to tickets just as rapidly as they can be picked up, inserted and removed by an operator. The same amount will be deposited on each ticket.

In the instance where two spaced strips of glue are being applied as shown in FIG. 6, when the operator removes the ticket, it is now in ready position for application to the article of merchandise (not shown).

In the event that it is desired to apply only a single strip of glue, either one of the applicator members 33 can be deactivated either by removing it from the shaft or by loosening th bolt 35 sufiiciently as to permit the shaft to turn freely with respect to the applicator. Moreover, the applicators can both be placed at the same end of the shaft to obtain closely spaced, side-by-side strips.

It will be apparent that the manner of construction of the receiver assembly 48 is such that the receiver can be easily altered to handle tickets differing in size from those illustrated. By simply providing plates differing in dimensions from the L-shaped plates 53, the unit can be adjusted for tickets which may be longer or shorter in length. In other words, by thickening or narrowing the forwardly projecting leg of the plates 53, the space between the legs is increased or decreased. The thickness of the receiver can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the thickness of the plates 53. Where necessary,'plates 49 and 52 can be replaced with other plates having different hol arrangements. Interchangability is effected easily by removing the cap screws 47,

' interchanging the plates as desired, and replacing the cap screws to reassemble the modified receiver to the unit.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to b interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. In an adhesive applicator for ticket-like elements, the combination of a body having a well section containing liquid adhesive, an applicator member having an applicator portion normally submerged in said adhesive in said well section, means supporting said applicator member for swinging movement of said member in a direction to lift said portion upwardly and out of said adhesive, a'rece-iver for said ticket-like element constructed to permit edgewise insertion of said element therein and to support said element in the path of said applicator por tion, said receiver having an opening on that side toward the adhesive through which said applicator portion can cont-act and transfer adhesive to said element, power means operable to swing said applicator member in said direction, and control means connected with said power means to effect operation of same, said control means including sensing means associated with said receiver and operating responsive to insertion of said element in said receiver.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an electric switch, and said sensing means comprises a plunger connected with said switch and displacea-ble by said element to operate said switch.

3. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said body is made of heat conductive material, and including means for directly heating portions of said body.

4. In an adhesive applicator for applying spaced deposits of adhesive to one side of an elongate, flat, ticketlike element, the combination of a pair of well sections laterally separated from one another by an open space and each containing liquid adhesive, a pair of applicator members, one for each Well section, each applicator member including an applicator portion normally submerged in the adhesive in its associated well, means supporting said applicator members for movement in a direction to elevate said applicator portions above the level of the adhesive, the applicator portions facing upwardly, a

receiver for said ticket-like element overlying said well sections, said receiver comprising upper and lower guide surfaces constructed to receive therebetween portions of the ticket-like element, the lower surfaces being interrupted to permit the applicator portions to contact and transfer adhesive to the surface of said element confronting said applicator portions, and means for effecting movement of said applicator members.

5. The combination as in claim 4 wherein said receiver guide surfaces are formed of a central notch permitting retention of the central portion of said ticket-like element by the fingers of an operator when the element is inserted into said receiver, said notch located above said space between said Well sections.

6. The combination as in claim 4 wherein said last named means includes an operating control member positioned to be contacted by said ticket-like element as it is inserted in said receiver, said control member operable to initiate said movement of said applicator members.

7. The combination as in claim 4 wherein the means supporting said members comprises a rotary shaft to which said members are connected.

8. The combination as in claim 4 wherein the last named means comprises a solenoid having a reciprocable armature, and means connecting said armature with said applicator members.

9. In an adhesive applicator for applying spaced deposits of adhesive to one side of an elongate, flat, ticketlike element, the combination of a pair of well sections laterally separated from one another by an open space and each containing liquid adhesive, a pair of applicator members, one for each well section, each applicator member including a substantially fiat, narrow applicator portion normally submerged in the adhesive in its associated well section, a rotary shaft supported with its axis oriented in the direction of separation of said well section, said applicator members mounted on said shaft and extending transversely therefrom, an electric solenoid having a reciprocable armature, link means connecting said armature with said shaft, control means for energizing said 7 8 armature whereby to rotate said shaft and displace said I References Cited by the Examiner applicator members in a direction to lift said applicator portions from said adhesive, and receiver means located UNITED STATES PATENTS above said wall sections for receiving said ticket-lilce ele- 2 110 93 3 193 N n ment and positioning same with portions thereof in the paths of said applicator portions, said receiver constructed FOREIGN PATENTS to permit contact between said applicator portions and the 719 055 11/1954 Great Britain ticket-like element.

10. The combination as in claim 9 wherein said control CHARLES WILLMUTH, Primary Examinen means includes a switch and switch-actuating mechanism responsive to insertion of a ticket-like element in said LEON G. MACHLIN, Assistant ne receiver. 7 

1. IN AN ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR TICKET-LIKE ELEMENTS, THE COMBINATION OF A BODY HAVING A WELL SECTION CONTAINING LIQUID ADHESIVE, AN APPLICATOR MEMBER HAVING AN APPLICATOR PORTION NORMALLY SUBMERGED IN SAID ADHESIVE IN SAID WELL SECTION, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID APPLICATOR MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER IN A DIRECTION TO LIFT SAID POTION UPWARDLY AND OUT OF SAID ADHESIVE, A RECEIVER FO RSAID TICKET-LIKE ELEMENT CONSTRUCTED TO PERMIT EDGEWISE INSERTION OF SAID ELEMENT THERIN AND TO SUPPORT SAID ELEMENT IN THE PATH OF SAID APPLICATOR PORTION, SAID RECEIVER HAVING AN OPENING ON THAT SIDE TOWARD THE ADHESIVE THROUGH WHICH SAID APPLICATOR PORTION CAN CONTACT AND TRANSFER ADHESIVE TO SAID ELEMENT, POWER MEANS OPERABLE TO SWING SAID APPLICATOR MEMBER IN SAID DIRECTION, AND CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID POWER MEANS TO EFFECT OPERATION OF SAME, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING SENSING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID RECEIVER AND OPERATING RESPONSIVE TO INSERTION OF SAID ELEMENT IN SAID RECEIVER. 